A Purity Ring gig is not just a concert, but an experience. This is due to three factors. One: their unrestrained dedication to deep, deep bass. Two: their hypnotising light show, which they've created themselves. And three: Megan James's extraordinary, soaring vocals. And their sci-fi costumes are pretty damn impressive, too. Hailing from Canada, the duo — who is made up of James and producer Corin Roddick — have been mesmerising crowds at festivals and clubs all over the planet. Following their breakthrough album, Shrines, they've since collaborated with the likes of Danny Brown and Jon Hopkins. Coming our way to play St Jerome's Laneway Festival in Melbourne and Perth, Purity Ring will make two headline appearances while they're here — one at the Sydney Opera House on February 9 and at Melbourne's Forum Theatre on February 11. Then they're off to the States to play a bunch of festivals, including Coachella.
Legendary underground LA hip hop group Jurassic 5 will take you back to the concrete streets at Festival Hall this April Fool's Day, playing a huge sideshow for this year's Bluesfest. This charismatic six-piece formed in the '90s, comprising the remnants of Unity Committee and Rebels of Rhythm. Since breaking up in 2007 due to creative differences, the crew's notoriety has grown rather than dissipated. Having recently reunited, these old-school revivalists are back to flaunt their soulful beats and social commentary. Punching into the mainstream was never a priority for the J5 crew. In saying that, 2014's sold-out world tour thrust the group into the limelight, revamping their global profile and earning legions of new fans. There is an enduring quality to their music; eloquent and intelligent hip hop with real heart. With one of the most energetic live shows around, J5 ought to pull on your nostalgic heartstrings with Bluesfest sideshow.
David Lynch has dabbled in as much music as he has weird, weird television, film and art — the 68-year-old's quite the multitasker. Having delved into versions of Roy Orbison, David Bowie and Chris Isaak's work, Lynch has continued to gleefully haunt and hypnotise audiences over an epic career. Paying tribute to the Twin Peaks mastermind, 'In Dreams: David Lynch Revisited' will see Australia’s Mick Harvey (ex-Bad Seeds) and Sophia Brous (Brous), New York City-based Cibo Matto and Irish-chanteuse Camille O’Sullivan venture through Lynch's covers, original music, as well as his work with Angelo Baladamenti. Polaris Prize-winning composer, multi-instrumentalist and dreamboat vocalist Owen Pallett has joined the 'In Dreams' lineup, as will Sydney's tale-weaving, ARIA-winning Sarah Blasko, ever-eclectic Sydneysider Kirin J Callinan and celebrated harpist Marshall McGuire.
Some think summer arrives when the mercury finally soars past 30 degrees, others are convinced it's the day you muster the courage to throw yourself in the ocean but, if you ask us, summer starts the moment you know Rooftop Cinema is cranking back into gear. Gather your sunnies and start dreaming of twilight Pimms — it's finally here. As always, there's plenty to look forward to. The cinema programmers have perfectly nailed the balance between big new releases, old classics and super relevant tie-ins with other events. They'll even be screening Nas' new music doco to coincide with his totally unprecedented appearance at Sugar Mountain in January. The first instalment of the program will kick off on Saturday, December 6 with David Fincher's controversial conversation starter Gone Girl. Continuing along with the theme of much-hyped blockbusters they'll also be screening Guardians of the Galaxy, Interstellar and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay. If big action flicks just ain't your thing, feel free to regress into your childhood instead. Not only are Rooftop offering the usual Christmas fare of Home Alone and Elf, they're also giving you the rare chance to see Labyrinth, Hook and the late great Rik Mayal's gross-out cult legacy Drop Dead Fred. Indie fare will get its usual run too with co-presented sessions run with Speakeasy and Deja View Cinema — the latter are even hosting a Christopher Walken Appreciation Night (probably the highlight of the whole thing). In what may be a program first, there doesn't seem to be any Bill Murray lined up! But don't fret just yet — we're sure they'll be throwing the iconic Ghostbuster's new film St Vincent in for the program's second instalment. For more information about Rooftop Cinema including the full December-January program, see here. The February-April program will be announced at the end of January. Grab your tickets here.
Not everyone likes to give presents on their own birthday, but KereKere Coffee are straight-up selfless legends. Celebrating their eighth birthday on March 11, KereKere Green and KereKere South will be giving away free coffee all day. All day. None of this 'first hundred people through the door' business. You could head there right now and nab a freeppucino. Started as a coffee cart in 2007 at the University of Melbourne, KereKere was founded by entrepreneurial social worker James Murphy (not of LCD Soundsystem fame, but a total boss all the same). KereKere (named for the Fijian custom in which a relative or neighbour can request something that is needed and it must be willingly given with no expectation of repayment) quickly expanded into one of Melbourne's favourite coffee spots — from purpose-built kiosks in 2011 to its current locations in Southbank's Boyd Community Hub and Fitzroy Gardens Visitors Centre. Murphy just wants to give a little back to the community, often giving out freebies like this on a daily basis. So, HB KK. Here's to another eight years of love in cups. Find KereKere Green, on the corner of Clarendon Street and Wellington Parade in East Melbourne. Or find KereKere South at 207 City Road, Southbank.
Once is never enough. For fans of ARIA-winning musician Megan Washington, this is certainly the case. Back by popular demand after a huge 2014 national tour, Washington's marching her There There album tour into the New Year — with a string of 2015 dates to satisfy bigtime Washo fans. Backed by rave reviews, Washington's #5 ARIA album There There will be amplified through venues nationwide by the beloved singer/songwriter. And the Melburnian's newest offering doesn't disappoint; There There teams with tracks so personal and raw you'll feel like you've snuck a glimpse at Washington's post break-up journal. But these aren't any old love-lost ballads. Washington's buttery vocals share some of her most candid experiences, paired with haunting harmonies that are hard to forget. And she doesn’t hold back, throwing in high energy, bare-all pop hits like 'Limitless' and 'My Heart is a Wheel' alongside stripped-back piano melodies. If you missed Washo last year, you're in serious luck. But get in quick, tickets to these shows are set to be tough to get your hands on.
The circus has always been a safe place for the freaks and superhumans of the world. They get to do freaky and superhuman things like squeeze themselves into boxes so tiny they would barely hold our gym gear while the rest of us ooh and ahh and think how much easier crow pose would be if we were superhuman too. Le Noir — The Dark Side of Cirque, promises to take the spectacle to an even higher level. Bringing together the most super of all the superhumans (seriously, the cast is 22 of the most celebrated cirque performers ever, including a long list of former Cirque de Soleil stars) Le Noir promises to shock, move and entertain in unimaginable ways. Luckily, hectic acts like the 'Colombian Wheel of Death' (Google that for some midweek entertainment) and the 'Aerial Cradle' are interspersed with bouts of comedy and music to give you a chance to pick up your jaw from the floor. We've come along way from the juggling clown and the super strong man. Get yourself a front row seat and prepare to have plenty to talk about at interval.
Kingpins of Brooklyn hype Parquet Courts are the kind of ramshackle, indie genre benders that strip back production-heavy 'garage' and deliver punk-as-blazes music every time. Blending lo-fi, geek-chic, your beyond stock-standard garage rock, and a healthy dose of punk, Parquet Courts are impossible to pin down. Think Pavement meets The Strokes, but with more tongue-in-cheek. Now, after playing sold-out shows in the States and making their mark at Splendour in the Grass last year, they're heading back to Australia for three intimate shows. Their 2014 album, Sunbathing Animal has been praised by Pitchfork as a musical testament to the band's unique grasp of simple, rough rock that places the band, "in their own distinct weight class." The foursome just released a new album Content Nausea under the name Parkay Quarts last December, recorded on a four-track tape over two weeks and predictably brimming with bristly feedback. Making appearances after their headlining spot at Secret Garden Festival, Parquet Courts are popping into Manning Bar in Sydney, The Zoo in Brisbane and Melbourne's Hi-Fi in early March. Supported by UV Race + The Stevens.
Chin Chin's Executive Chef Ben Cooper is hosting a series of intimate cooking classes throughout August and September. Dubbed Cooking with Cooper, this new run of vibrant, Thai-inspired cooking classes is designed to give aspiring chefs the tips, tricks and recipes needed to recreate a taste of Chin Chin at home. Learn the secrets of the classic Sunday roast as Cooper demonstrates how to bone, stuff, roll and truss an entire chicken across August classes. Roll up your sleeves across this interactive workshop which will take you through the process of making accompaniments including a fennel and roast garlic sweet fish sauce glaze. Each class across Sunday, August 13 or Monday, August 14 will run over a three-hour session and is followed by a sit-down, Feed Me lunch featuring Chin Chin's menu classics. Alternatively, a three-hour BBQ session will run across Sunday, September 24 or Monday, September 25. Prep and perfect the ultimate beef brisket, supercharged with Thai-inspired twists including smashed cucumber pickles, before sitting down to a post-class feast featuring red curry mussels, slow-cooked brisket and more. Tickets come in at $145 per person which includes the three-hour cooking class followed by lunch. Images: supplied.
Collingwood's Le Bon Ton is bringing back their iconic, slow-cooked Independence Day BBQ, and it's looking even stickier than last year. Due to the way calendars work, Le Bon Ton is actually celebrating Independence Day on Sunday, July 2 – not July 4 – because it's hard to get Melbourne excited about chicken-eating competitions on a Tuesday. This way, you can celebrate Independence Day two days early, the way the founding fathers intended: by watching grown adults eat a basket of hot wings. The challenge is the same as last year: eat six wings, smothered in Le Bon Ton's spiciest signature sauce, then sit in front of a glass of milk and an ice-cream for five minutes without touching them. Anyone can enter for $25, and that includes your wings. For people who value their digestive system, there's also a slew of regular New Orleans-style BBQ specials to enjoy, including pit-smoked chicken, hotdogs, jackfruit tacos and brisket by the truckload. You can check out the sneak peek menu here. Independence Day celebrations run all day. Quoting from the iconic Will Smith movie is encouraged. Images: supplied.
With the cost of living crisis hammering people's restaurant budgets, we're starting to see more venues dabbling in hot deals for dedicated locals. St Kilda's new-look Saint Hotel, which opened its doors in March of this year, has decided to join the postcode bandwagon this month. They're running a cheeky Locals Night every Wednesday where you can score 20% off your bill at either Saint Bar or Saint Dining… if you live or work in St Kilda. Not too shabby for a midweek feed. Just a heads up: this deal doesn't apply to Stellas or Bar 54. If you work nearby, Saint Bar is also running an express lunch special on Fridays, 12pm to 4pm. You can get two courses for $45 or three courses for $55, and that includes a complimentary wine or beer. In this economy? A bargain! Personally, we recommend starting with Saint's Josper-grilled flatbread with confit garlic oil. Throw on some whipped flathead roe and salmon caviar for good measure. Images: Supplied
If you're looking to level-up your afternoon tea game beyond basic bikkies and finger sandwiches, pop The Westin Melbourne's latest luxe offering on your radar. Taking the high tea concept to soaring new heights, the hotel's High SocieTea menu is dishing up a daily dose of glamour from Friday, August 25–Sunday, November 19. Sashay into the Lobby Lounge between 4pm and 8pm each day for a taste of the high life, tucking into a three-tiered feast dedicated to the high tea holy trinity — cheese, chocolate and caviar. You're in for decadent treats like charcoal tarts with wild scampi caviar and juniper-cured salmon, served theatrically in a glass box; the fanciest Croque Monsieur paired with aged prosciutto, caramelised onions, L'artisan Organic Mepunga gruyere and topped with bacon dust; milk buns crowned with 12-hour braised lamb shoulder and chevre; and gooey pear and cocoa tarts. Coming in at $135 per person, the High SocieTea feast includes a glass of champagne, with more premium vino and cocktails available to add on.
If you're looking to branch out and try something new this winter, we've found a great place to start. Throughout June, July and August, social enterprise Free to Feed is dishing up a multicultural bounty of goodness as part of its Winter Feasts series. The not-for-profit hosts food experiences aimed at helping refugees and people seeking asylum overcome social and economic barriers. And, working with talented cooks from all corners of the globe, it's delivered some pretty special dining events — and delicious cultural exchanges — during its time. This year's series of Winter Feasts will take over Free to Feed's North Fitzroy events space for a program of intimate multi-course dinners clocking in at $85 per person. Each event will see some of the organisation's culinarily gifted participants share the flavours and stories of their culture via a generous shared feast. Take your tastebuds on an international adventure via Orlin, Nada, Halima's North and East African dinners (Thursday, June 13 and Friday, June 14), Oksana's Ukrainian long lunch (Saturday, June 29), Mirvat and Rana's meat-free Iraqi feast (Thursday, July 11 and Friday, July 12), and Tayebeh and Shanaz's Persian spread (Wednesday, July 17 and Friday, July 19). Free to Feed will also be hosting two storytelling dinners as a part of Refugee Week — called Ghorbeh — on Tuesday, June 18 and Friday, June 21. During these nights, guests will dine at communal tables and hear stories from people with asylum-seeking and refugee backgrounds that will explore the themes of home and community. The previous Summer Feasts sold out well ahead of time, so make sure you book your tickets to these lunches and dinners as soon as possible.
Meatstock Festival is setting up its smoky self in the Melbourne Showgrounds on the weekend of April 22 and 23, and if you're the sort of person who likes to eat meat until you start shaking with the meat sweats and can (m)eat no more, then we have an opportunity very relevant to your interests. Enter your details into the box below and you'll not only go into the draw to win two VIP passes to the festival, you'll also win the chance to become a fully-certified barbecue judge. Over the Meatstock weekend, you'll participate in a barbecue-tasting training course and sit at a judging table to taste test 30 courses of the finest barbecue Melbourne has to offer. If you're going to go to one barbecue festival this year, make it Meatstock. Not just your regular food festival, Meatstock has a music lineup that includes The Delta Riggs, The Davidson Brothers, The Tomahawks and Bullhorn. Sure, there'll be less music than there is at Woodstock, but there will be 200% more tasty meat-related foods. The food stars of the show are Jack The Ribber (smoky, slow-cooked goodness), and The Real Jerk (Caribbean street food). Try both, or all of the 13 food stalls and then fall into a sweaty, cholesterol-heavy heap — don't say we didn't warn you. There's more to see once you walk that off, like a live demonstration from The Sausage Queen or representatives from your favourite chilli sauces (Melbourne Hot Sauce) and knife brands. Finally, for a little old-fashioned rivalry, the festival will be running both Barber Wars and Butcher Wars, which will basically be a bunch of hopefully unbloodied people running around competing and wielding various knives. What a weekend. To win the barbecue-tasting prize, you must be available from 8am to 4pm on Sunday April 23 — there are 30 courses of barbecue to taste, it's going to take a while. If you don't win, tickets are $35 per day or $55 for the whole weekend. [competition]617370[/competition]
LCD Soundsystem is finally headed back to Australia in their first visit since playing a national tour and Big Day Out in 2011. The beloved New Yorkers reunited last year, going on to headline some of the world's biggest festivals, including Coachella, Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, Bonnaroo and Primavera. Now, the day after James Murphy, Nancy Whang and co. headline Splendour in the Grass, they're headed to Melbourne to bring down the house at the Margaret Court Arena on Wednesday, July 26. Formed back in 2002 by Murphy, LCD Soundsystem's cathartic dance-punk defined the noughties for many. Presented by Frontier Touring and triple j, this highly anticipated show is sure to be one hell of a reunion party. Fingers crossed that the band's new album will be out by then — Murphy has promised a newbie. Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 20 at 11am, with presale happening for Frontier Touring members at 2pm on Tuesday, April 18 through 2pm on Wednesday, April 19. They're sure to sell out insanely quickly, so dawdlers will be sorry. LC Soundsystem will play at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion earlier in the week on Monday, July 24, and the Melbourne show will cap off one of the most hectic weeks of live music Australia will see this year. Image: Matt Biddulph via Wikimedia Commons.
It is so often the case in life that the greatest things in life are often the simplest. The daiquiri we know and love today came from humble beginnings in the mining town of Daiquiri in 1898. Back then it was little more than lime juice, Bacardi rum, a little water, sugar and ice. From there it ventured to Santiago, then travelled to Washington DC, then happily dispersed across America and eventually, the world. Over the years, the daiquiri been bastardised by slushy machines and TGI Fridays into pink, icy mush, but there are some noble bartenders taking this misunderstood cocktail classic back to its traditional form. In honour of this delicious, prevailing cocktail, we celebrate World Daiquiri Day on Sunday, July 19, as part of Bacardi Rum Month. Here are Melbourne’s best bars to drop into if you’re simply dying for a daiquiri, darling. EAU DE VIE What cocktail round-up of Melbourne is complete without a nod to the classic connoisseurs at Eau De Vie? Melburnian bartender royalty Greg Sanderson is at the helm here (previous posts include the Black Pearl and Murmur), and his daiquiri has a little added texture and a delicious foamy head. That’s right, the secret ingredient is a small dash of egg white, as well as Bacardi Carta Blanca, powdered refined sugar and fresh lime juice. It even comes with a Bacardi bat stencil for garnish, just to remind you who the real king of rum is. 1 Malthouse Lane, Melbourne GOLDILOCKS If it’s some rooftop sipping you’re after, Goldilocks is one of Melbourne’s finest. If you think outdoor drinking was only a summer time activity, think again; they’ve got the heaters a-blazing so you can continue to enjoy your beverage while leisurely taking in the view. Their Rosemary Daiquiri has both an intriguing flavour, and a little extra kick. Bacardi Carta Blanca is combined with lime juice, sugar syrup and a dash of green Chartreuse. It’s the old shake and strain technique for this one, and garnished with a dash of Peychaurds bitters and a sprig of rosemary. Level 4, 264 Swanston Street, Melbourne NEW GOLD MOUNTAIN If you want a tucked-away hidden Melbourne gem, New Gold Mountain is the way to go. There’s no signage to direct you, but just climb the stairs to two levels of Chinese-décor themed cocktail heaven. If it’s a daiquiri you’re after, order yourself up an El Barbudo, but be warned, this is not exactly close to the classic. Bacardi Carta Blanca meets housemade beetroot grenadine, fresh lemon juice and what is described as ‘Sugar Sizzurp’. We’re going assume this is not the cough-medicine variety of Sizzurp, although there’s no doubt this concoction may have some addictive qualities. Garnished with cracked pepper for good measure, enjoy this daiquiri with a difference. 21 Liverpool Street, Melbourne JANE DOE Chapel Street is about to get a new bar, and the mystery surrounding the place is close to killing us. What we can reveal to you, dear reader, is that they have a splendid daiquiri on offer; a burnt lime and basil flavoured concoction, to be exact. A healthy dose of Bacardi Carta Blanca meets burnt lime juice, seven basil leaves, and two heaped bar spoons vanilla sugar. Hard shake over lots of ice, double strain and serve in vintage coupe glass. We love the vibrant green colour of the end product; looks like a potion but tastes like a dream. 219 Chapel Street, Prahran THE TOFF IN TOWN Slide into a cosy booth at the Toff with your posse and proceed to eat, drink and make merry. The Gardenside Sour, a twist on the daiquiri, is a delightful stroll down the garden path with all the freshness in flavour you could hope for. Bacardi Carta Blanca, St. Germain elderflower liquor, lemon juice, ginger syrup, two dashes of lavender bitters and two slices of cucumber diced and muddled are shaken, double-strained and served in a martini glass. Resting on top is the cucumber ribbon and rosemary sprig garnish, looking as pretty as a picture and beckoning you to dive right in. 2/252 Swanston Street, Melbourne
The crowd has spoken, and Maha has listened. Their signature Beer & Burger Special is back by popular demand. The Maha team have been rolling this out once or twice a year since 2018, and we've seen a few different variations. This time it's a juicy, decadent cheeseburger with grilled beef, cheese, tomato sauce and pickles on a brioche bun. Throw in a tinny of Brick Lane draught beer for $30 flat. And if you've ever dined at Maha before, you'll know this isn't an ordinary cheeseburger. Maha's Beer & Burger special is running Monday to Friday throughout winter. You can get it between 12pm and 3pm. No bookings required for this one. Just turn up and enjoy. [caption id="attachment_907765" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Maha, Brook James.[/caption] Images: Supplied
There's something about summer in Australia that brings out the icy cold, brain-freezing Slurpee-lover in almost all of us. This is Melbourne though and as such, we don't just want a 7/11 quick fix — we expect our cafes and bars to create cold concoctions to cool us and quench our thirst. And the good news is, they have. Below, we've scoped out some of our favourite cool summer drinks — both spiked and non-alcoholic — that you simply have to try. Spiked Milkshakes at the Grand Trailer Park Taverna Fitted out with renovated caravans, as the name would suggest, The Grand Trailer Park Taverna is dishing up a huge range of burgers, ridiculously extravagant desserts, cocktails and spiked milkshakes. Available in four thirst-quenching flavours these milky concoctions won't have you in any doubt this was a good idea once you try them. Choose from Makers Mark bourbon with salted caramel and maple bacon, Kinder Surprise with frangelico and baileys or the peanut butter and jelly with Captain Morgan's rum. These boozy shakes are sure to help wash down that mac and cheese burger you're eyeing off. 87 Bourke Street, Melbourne, (03) 9972 3699, grandtrailerpark.com.au Young Coconut, Pineapple and Lemon Ice Crush at Mighty Boy South-East Asian eatery Mighty Boy is a well received addition to the upper Gertrude Street side of Fitzroy. Boasting flavours from Thailand to Vietnam — but with a distinctly Melbourne twist, no less — Mighty Boy knows what food and drink your body is craving over summer. If you tuck into any number of their delicious street style food, such as spicy pad thai, fried chicken roti or some duck rice paper rolls, make sure to pick up a thirst-quenching slushie to wash it all down. Our favourite? The young coconut, pineapple and lemon ice crush. 59-61 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, (03) 9419 3686, mightyboyeatery.com.au Peanut Butter Cup at Five Plus Smoothie Sure, we are guilty of getting into the green smoothie craze — but there's no denying they are good for you. Luckily, Five Plus Smoothie believe taste is just as important as health and have whipped up a number of healthy green smoothie options to get you beach body ready. They don't contain any unnatural sweeteners and are packed with fresh fruits and vegetables delivered daily from local farms. While a large smoothie will set you back $9, this drink is definitely better for you than that double espresso you're probably drinking right now. If your body is crying out for some vitamins and a liver detox then try the Green Light smoothie: fresh spinach, coconut water, pear, celery, banana and a little tang of lemon. But if you're like us and you would rather have dessert than a cup of vegetables, give the Peanut Butter Cup a go: it's made up of oats, almond milk, banana, homemade peanut butter and dates. Five Plus have somehow made dessert drinks healthy. 265 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, fiveplussmoothie.com.au Cold Filtered Milk Coffee at St. Ali On some sweltering hot summer days all you want to do is lock your bedroom door and sit right in front of the air conditioning. On others, you're ready to embrace the heat, often with a cold brew in hand. But what happens if it's too early for a beer or you just want a little perk up? Cold filtered coffee is the answer. St Ali, the masters of spin, have started pre-bottling it up for your (and most likely their) convenience. Served in a brown beer bottle with a snazzy label, it's the perfect grab-and-go iced coffee. St. Ali isn't the only place to get a cold brew on the go either — Little Big Sugar Salt have been bottling their own almond milk cold coffee for a while, and Everyday Coffee now sells Coolers Coffee in-store too. 12-18 Yarra Place, South Melbourne, (03) 9686 2990, stali.com.au Awakened Smoothie at Heal.Thy Self Co No matter how hard you went the night before, this place has got you covered. It's no surprise that what started off as a blog aimed at health and wellness translated so easily into a organic, fresh cafe filled to the brim with superfoods. Nestled in amongst the tropical decorations and health junkie patrons you can feel the goodness start to seep in even before you take your first sip. Perk up with the Awakened smoothie — it's got a double shot of espresso with banana, a touch of vanilla and topped up with nourishing almond milk. Healthy summer here we come! 26 Ballarat Street, Yarraville, (03) 9687 3330, healthyselfco.com.au
He's worked in Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK and won acclaim at Southbank's Pure South Dining, but it's only now that Melbourne-born chef Ashley Davis has a restaurant to call his own. Opening this week on Victoria Street in Seddon, Copper Pot will serve up seasonal, European-style cuisine to hungry diners in Melbourne's inner west. Inspired by the "neighbourhood bodegas, trattorias and bistros of Europe" and informed by Davis' travels, the 50-seat restaurant is serving up a variety of dishes throughout the day, from casual brunch and tapas options to more substantial offerings. The food draws on culinary influences from lesser-exploited European cuisines, such as Hungary and Croatia. Similarly, the drinks list features a range of wines, beers, cocktails and aperitifs, all of which have been "selected on their merit of delivering to their quintessential continental origins". But what's perhaps most intriguing about Davis' new digs are his foodie road trips, a series of special dining events covering different styles of regional European cooking. According to the restaurant's website, each event will follow a specific theme in the form of an extended tasting menu and wine pairing. The first is scheduled for New Year's Eve, with an early arrival five-course option at $99 a head, and an eight-course option for $150 to ring in the New Year. Copper Pot Seddon is located at 105 Victoria Street, Seddon, and is open for breakfast and lunch Thursday to Sunday, and dinner Wednesday to Saturday. For more information and to book a table for NYE, visit copperpotseddon.com.
Charismatic foursome All Our Exes Live in Texas are hitting the road for a national tour throughout March and April, celebrating the release of new single 'Sailboat', from their forthcoming debut album. The group represents the bringing together of four of Sydney's foremost singing and songwriting talents: Elana Stone, Kate Wighton, Hannah Crofts and Georgia Mooney. Since releasing their debut EP back in late 2013, they've been winning over indie-folk crowds with their lush four-part harmonies, haunting melodies and stories of heartbreak and fresh beginnings. The EP scored quite a few spins on triple j's Roots 'n' All. In the meantime, they've been sharing stages with a bunch of well-known acts, including Megan Washington, Tinpan Orange, Mama Kin and Jordie Lane. The Sailboat National Tour covers several major festivals, including Port Fairy, Blue Mountains, the Tasmania International Arts Festival and the National Folk Festival, as well as appearances at the Melbourne Folk Club on March 25, The Basement on April 18 and Black bear Lodge on April 19. Supported by Kim Richey (USA).
Grammy-nominated New York duo Sofi Tukker have announced they'll be bringing their genre-blurring tunes to Aussie shores, set to take the stage in Sydney and Melbourne in February. Since releasing their debut EP, Soft Animals, early last year, Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern have garnered fans worldwide, snapping up chart spots in more than 20 countries and landing festivals across Europe and North America. The pair's dance-worthy beats draw inspiration from all corners of the globe, resulting in a layering of sound unlike any you've heard before. And the Sofi Tukker live show promises to be every bit as spectacular, starring the duo's own unique instrument, called 'The Book Tree'. Expect a six-foot-tall 'creature', decked out in foliage and hardcover books, each tome engineered to create a different sound when drummed, to compliment that blissful melange of guitar, bass, and bongos. Sofi Tukker plays at Sydney's Oxford Art Factory on February 17 and Melbourne's Howler on February 18. Tickets are available from Moshtix from January 12.
For years, the Queen Victoria Market's night series has set two very different scenes — one of spiced mulled wine and barbecue smoke for its winter season, and of balmy evening air and sangria during the summer months. But what about the in-between seasons? Are we expected to go to restaurants on a Wednesday night? Since 2018, the answer is, no, not anymore, with the historic marketplace hosting a new spring edition of its popular hump day offering. Returning again in 2019, the Hawker 88 Night Market will fill that Wednesday night gap between September 18 to October 23. Riffing on the bustling hawker markets of Southeast Asia, it'll serve up a riot of flavours from across the continent, as imagined by more than 20 of the city's most popular vendors. From rich Indian curries and Malaysian feasts to Korean-style pork belly and Japanese karaage — if it's authentic, Asian street food, it'll probably make an appearance. Different weekly themes will give you the chance to explore various cuisines of the region alongside traditional entertainment, demonstrations and cultural experiences — get set for K-pop performances, Chinese lion dances and martial arts. The lineup includes a Mooncake Festival, a Diwali Bollywood Festival and weeks dedicated to Malaysia, Korea and Japan, Bali and Boracay Island, and south east Asia in general.
All-you-can-eat oysters and unlimited sparkling? Say less. For a limited time, Pinchy's Lobster and Champagne Bar is running a special 'Menu Pré-Théâtre'. Grab unlimited oysters and bottomless bubbles from Wednesdays through to Fridays from 5pm to 6pm. The special will be running all winter. The idea is the give the pre-theatre crowd somewhere to eat their bodyweight in oysters, but you don't need a ticket theatre ticket to get through the door. The oysters themselves are top-shelf, sourced from Moonlight Flat in Bateman's Bay in NSW. They'll be served natural, or accompanied by Pinchy's trademark spearmint and green chilli mignonette. Menu Pré-Théâtre will set you back $50 a head, which depending on your oyster slurping abilities, represents significant value. Image: supplied.
Vegans of Melbourne, prepare to loudly rejoice into your soy products. Collingwood has just scored a vegan-only pizzeria with a vegan dessert menu. Wooop. Plan the rest of your lives accordingly. Red Sparrow opened last week, and the charge is being led by Michael Craig, an ex-chef of Fitzroy vegan mainstay Trippy Taco. A vegan himself, Craig says the venture has been on the cards for a while now. "Opening up a vegan restaurant and bar has been a dream of mine for a long time, so I've been planning this for a while," he says. "I think there's a gap in the market for high-quality vegan pizza — not necessarily from a business point of view, but from a personal desire to have somewhere to eat good pizza and drink beers with friends." Located on Smith Street, Collingwood, Red Sparrow has a solid menu of nine pizza options plus dessert. Craig says the eatery isn't just for vegans though and his goal is to prove to people that you don't have to be vegan to love vegan food. "You don't have to be vegan to come to Red Sparrow Pizza and enjoy the food on offer," he says. "More and more people are either becoming vegan or vegetarian, or at least aware of its benefits, either for animal welfare, the environment or personal health reasons. We're now at a stage where people know they can eat vegan food and it doesn't have to mean compromising on flavour, and that's what I intend to create — a good pizzeria, not just a good vegan restaurant." And don't for a second think that a vegan pizza will lack that cheese goopiness you've come to expect. Craig and his partner Shelley Scott have been developing the perfect cheese mimicry products. "We'll be using at least five different types of dairy-free cheese," says Craig. "Each one is being planned for the specific pizza — be it an almond feta, coconut parmesan, or a soy fior di latte." Traditional pizzerias — heavy on the cheese and meat side of things — don't often give much thought to the vegan alternative. Generally, they, just offer the same pizzas but without cheese, which is pretty blasphemous (in our books, anyway). So Red Sparrow has worked on its faux meat game too, with a plant-based pepperoni and a beer-infused bratwurst on the menu. Fake meat, for those of you who're yet to try it, is usually made with a combination of gluten and organic tofu and you'd be amazed at how convincing it can be. But don't worry, everything at Red Sparrow is ethically sourced and guaranteed to be suitable for dietary requirements — including the booze. So you can chow down and drink up knowing everything is totally animal product-free. Red Sparrow is now open at 406 Smith Street, Collingwood. For info, head to their Facebook page.
Undisputed badass, battle hero and SBS newsreader Lee Lin Chin is gearing up to represent Australia on the global stage. Announced on SBS's The Feed last night, Chin will take on the coveted role of Australia's official Eurovision spokesperson. Now that's a Eurovision representative we can get excited about (yeah sorry, ARIAs, charts, vocal range, yadda yadda, but come on). Chin will deliver the famous and vital points from Australia's stash, announcing the final three countries that will receive Australia's eight, ten and twelve points. So while Malta, Demark, perpetual 'London Calling' jokemakers the United Kingdom and more give it their best, most awkward shot in front of the green screen, Australia's modish champion will inevitably deliver the points with poise, urgency and hopefully, in this Logies hat. Given the time difference in Austria, Lin Chin will have to get up pretty early to deliver the goods. But eating, sleeping, raving and repeating is a cakewalk for this party professional. "I’m not worried about being up early, I’ll just have to take a break from the clubs for 20 minutes." *drops mic* As the very first time in Eurovision history Australia has been invited to compete in the contest, and the very first time Chin has dominated the international airwaves, it's all convenient timing for the SBS newsreader — who recently announced her new commitment to campaigning for the 2016 Gold Logie (most popular personality on Australian television, yep she's missing a few decades worth on her shelf). "195 million people watch Eurovision every year and if even just 10 million of those buy TV Week I’ll have it in the bag," she said in a coy and perfectly crafted media statement. "As SBS’s most recognisable personality I couldn’t say no to such an opportunity. I’m the obvious choice — not only have I been to Europe but I also listen to music from time to time." How can you get in on the Eurovision action? SBS will broadcast both semi-finals and the Grand Final live from Vienna on May 20, May 22 and May 24 from 5am. Both semi-finals will be shown in full on SBS ONE on May 22 and May 23 from 7.30pm. The Grand Final featuring Guy Sebastian and Lee Lin Chin's points delivery will screen on Sunday May 24 from 7.30pm. For now, this:
Charge the flux capacitor folks. Less than a month before The Astor is scheduled to shut up shop, its programmers are taking audiences Back to the Future. This Sunday March 14, Melbourne’s favourite repertory cinema is screening all three parts of Robert Zemeckis's iconic time travel trilogy, for the bargain basement ticket price of just $25. The afternoon begins, as you'd expect, with the original Back to the Future, one of the greatest movies to come out of the 1980s, and one of the most entertaining time travel movies ever made. After that, get a glimpse of the far distant future in Part Two: the year 2015! (Seriously, aren’t we all meant to be riding around on hoverboards right now?) Poor predictions aside, Part Two is a seriously underrated flick — it’s the rare sort of sequel that actually enhances your enjoyment of the first film. The same can’t quite be said of Part Three, unfortunately, although if you can make it past the whole Wild West shtick, it’s still pretty entertaining.
What do you get when you take a southeast Asian-style hawker market, give it fresh, neon-lit designer digs and throw in some modern technology? Well, Melbourne is about to find out, because HWKR has opened its doors. Taking over a contemporary space beneath A'Beckett Street's Eq. Tower, HWKR is bringing a relatively unique dining experience to Melbourne. First of all, it doesn't have one kitchen — it has four. These will house four local and international Asian food vendors at any time. Tenants will take over the kitchens for three months at a time, each plating up a menu of signature fare alongside one exclusive HWKR dish. Among the first eateries to give the concept a workout is Hong Kong's Bread & Beast — it'll be bringing its award-winning sandwiches and Hong Kong-style po' boys to Melbourne for the first time. Alongside those will be Reynold Poernomo's savoury and sweet creations (all the way from Sydney), 2017 MasterChef winner Diana Chan's riff on hawker fusion fare — including satay and lobster brioche rolls — and a new rice-heavy spin-off from Rice Paper Scissors. Meanwhile, on-site cafe ManyMore — run by local not-for-profit group the MAI Foundation — will be slinging coffees by day and cocktails by night, with all its profits heading to charity. The space will feature loads of seating options throughout, including a stacked staircase along one wall, where you can get amongst the hawker buzz while chowing down on your food. Best of all, HWKR's tech-savvy setup means there'll be no scrounging for change when it comes time to pay. Diners simply download the venue's app to order their food, either from their table or before arriving, and pay via their device using the cashless and cardless systems. HWKR is now open at 137 A'Beckett Street, Melbourne. The cafe opens at 7am daily, while the other eateries open from 11am. For more info, visit hwkr.com.au.
They say eating cheese before you go to bed will give you nightmares, but that doesn’t seem to bother the people who’ve organised Cheese Please, a twilight cheese festival coming to Melbourne in February. OK so that was a cheesy (woo!) introduction to what is undoubtedly the best damn news you’ve heard all week — a cheese festival is coming, a festival of cheese, an event where you can go and eat cheese and drink wine all night, which is incontrovertible proof that we’re all dead and Melbourne is heaven. And it’s not just any home-brand cheddar block either. The Australian Grand Dairy Awards are presenting the festival and only the finest cheeses will be on display — not a Kraft single in sight. Small-scale, family-owned producers will display alongside your favourites (Mersey Valley, we’re comin’ for ya) and all the cheese on offer will be prize winners of the Australian Grand Dairy awards. As well as much cheese there will also be much like-cheese-but-not. Like-cheese-but-not goes by many names — dips, yoghurts, cream, butter, desserts — and there will also be some very-much-not-cheese like beer, wine and food trucks. Very good. The event is technically free but you do have to ‘win’ tickets by registering and applying for them. This is probably because they know if it was open to the public we’d swarm the place in seconds, like agile 28 Days Later zombies, and tear it apart looking for cheese (they’ve certainly got our number). To get you in the mood, check out their website (aptly named Legendairy) for some truly inspirational recipes and cheese pairings — spiced oatcake with sour cherries and camembert anyone? Cheese Please festival is happening on February 19 at Testing Grounds, City Road, Southbank from 5-9pm. Register for tickets here. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Jarryd James has had quite the year already. At the start of 2015, this quiet achieving Brisbanite released a tune by the name of 'Do You Remember'. Blending ambient beats with progressive R&B, and featuring James's mesmerising vocals, the single gained over five million cumulative streams, full rotation on triple j, peaked at #1 on the Australian iTunes chart, spent six weeks atop the Australian Shazam chart and achieved Double Platinum sales here as well. Boom. It's not really a big surprise though, the track was co-written with powerhouse, Grammy-winning producer Joel Little, who's worked with the equally bright-young-thing likes of Broods and Lorde. Six months later, the 31-year-old dropped a catchy little number called 'Give Me Something' (also produced by Little), with an Usher-meets-Flume vibe and set to feature on his forthcoming debut album, to be to be released independently in Australia via Dryden St and internationally via Interscope. Having shared stages locally with both Broods and Angus and Julia Stone and crushing it with his own headline tour in March, James is now heading out on another national tour to coincide with an anticipated Splendour appearance. He'll be appearing in his hometown of Brisbane at the Hi-Fi on July 3, at Sydney's Metro Theatre on July 10 and at Melbourne's Forum on July 11 before Splendour on July 25. By Jasmine Crittenden and Shannon Connellan.
We all love a chef collaboration, and we live for a midweek cheap eats deal. But rarely do the two meet quite as well as Maha East's most recent dining series 'ARAB'iata. This sees top Melbourne chefs like Scott Pickett (Chancery Lane, (Estelle, Matilda Longrain, Smith St Bristot and Audrey's), Mischa Tropp (Toddy Shop), Joseph Abboud (Rumi), Julian Hills (Navi), Pete Gun, (Ides) and Ben Cooper (Chin Chin) cook up limited-edition $15 pastas every week from September 16–November 6. The pastas will all be Middle Eastern-inspired and are only available between Monday and Wednesday from 5 pm. First up is Maha's own Shane Delia from September 16–19, who's plating pan-fried haloumi and mint gnocchi with charred tomato, cumin-spiced lamb and pine nuts. Pete Gunn follows this with his caramelised dukkah and brown butter mac 'n' cheese from September 23–25. You've then got Ben Cooper from September 30–October 2, Daniel Giraldo from October 7–9, Julian Hills from October 14–16, Joseph Abboud from October 21–23, Scott Pickett from October 28–30 and Micha Tropp from November 4–6. We don't know what Middle Eastern-influenced pasta dishes these chefs will be creating, but you can find out closer to the date via Maha East's Instagram page. Booking slots for those just eating pasta will only be 45 minutes long, but you are free to stick around longer if you order more bites off the a la carte menu.
UPDATE 3/8, 12pm: Just when we thought things were rock solid, Huffington Post has reported the site previously hosting Citizenfour imported the film illegally. Dang. You can catch the movie in limited release at Sydney's Chauvel, Brisbane's Dendy, Melbourne's Cinema Nova, Auckland's Academy and Rialto Cinemas, and Wellington's Light House. EARLIER: Here's a little Tuesday pressie to sweeten the start of your week. Oscar-winning documentary Citizenfour, which delves into Edward Snowden's bold decision to leak NSA secrets in 2013, is now available to stream online for free. Directed by Laura Poitras and shot in cinéma vérité style, the film is now available to watch for free via Thought Maybe. Before taking out the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at this year's Oscars, this film premiered in the US in October 2014 at the New York Film Festival to high fives and critical acclaim all round. Citizenfour journeys through a series of Hong Kong-based meetings between former Guardian columnist Glenn Greenwald and NSA whistleblower Snowden, conversations which would reveal history-changing information about widespread government surveillance and make us all a little freaked out about online privacy. There's only a few screenings left of Citizenfour — Sydney's Chauvel, Brisbane's Dendy, Melbourne's Cinema Nova, Auckland's Academy and Rialto Cinemas, and Wellington's Light House are apparently still screening it – but this is a grand option if you find yourself with a few home hours up your sleeve. Check out the trailer below. Via Huffington Post.
The theme of this year's Melbourne Fringe Festival is 'Eat Your Art Out', which sees most of the 470-plus events explore the relationship between food and art. You'll be invited to join interactive dinners, cook at pop-up barbecues and drop by the weekly Fringe Flavours Night Market. Every Wednesday evening from September 18–October 16, Queen Vic Market will play host to food stalls, pop-up bars, local artisan shops and heaps of Fringe performances. You can tuck into Polich dumplings from Pierogi, Pierogi, handmade pasta from La Trafila, a huge selection of tacos from the Le Mano, Korean corn rice from Oksusu and fluffy souffles from the Tokyoki Souffle team. There'll also be three separate bars running each night. One will serve a selection of berry-infused cocktails, another will shake up nothing but margaritas, and the third will be run by the Fringe Night Market itself — serving beer, wine, spiced rum and gin and tonics. When it comes to entertainment, you're absolutely spoilt for choice. Tash York will perform their wine-filled cabaret show, Throw Catch Collective will run a food-themed juggling act, Bettie Bombshell and Ruby Sklippers will perform family-friendly versions of their burlesque shows, and Boyd Kelly will be DJing most nights — bringing soul and funk beats to the Fringe Flavours Night Market. You can, of course, look up who is performing in advance and go along for their free show at the market, but we love to be surprised by Melbourne Fringe Festival events — simply rocking up and hoping for the best. That's kind of the point of the Fringe. Discover a new artist at the spring night market series, and if you really love them, pay for tickets to their main Fringe show.
Enjoy a night out at the opera...and by the opera, we mean the opera. Comprised of four parts and totalling more than 16 hours in length, Wagner's Ring Cycle is one of the most epic musical sagas ever told. Now, thanks to Opera Australia, you'll soon get the chance to see it — and hear it — for yourself. Directed once again by Neil Armfield (whose previous presentation of the Ring Cycle with Opera Australia has been hailed as one of the best), each of the four operas will be performed three separate times between November 21 and December 16. Together, they tell the story of a cataclysmic struggle between Norse Gods over a ring that grants dominion over the entire world. Tickets to the Ring Cycle start at $80 for students and $120 for under 30s, and top out at $2150 for a premium package including all four shows. Yeah, it's pretty pricey, but what'd you expect from the opera?
For RISING's 2024 run, Fed Square is becoming a huge hub for First Nations people to share their stories through a series of art installations. For the entirety of the winter festival, from Saturday, June 1–Sunday June 16, punters can head down to not only enjoy beautiful works of art, but to also participate in important political discourse concerning First Nations people. Richard Bell's EMBASSY is at the heart of this. Inspired by the original Aboriginal Tent Embassy, pitched on the grounds of Canberra's Parliament House in 1972, EMBASSY will be a space where people can come to listen and participate in conversations led by First Peoples. The program features daily film screenings and a whole host of talks with activists, writers and artists every Saturday of RISING 2024. Once the sun sets each night, Fed Square will then be lit up by a series of projections. Tarryn Love's ngaka - look here shares stories of Sky Country and the cosmos, and aims to transport viewers into celestial knowledge. [caption id="attachment_958495" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tony Albert, Cros Circles in Yogya 3 2016 ©️ Tony Albert, courtesy of the artist and RISING[/caption] Tony Albert's BEAM ME UP The Art of Abduction immerses us in themes of alienation, belonging and place through colourful installations as well as a special children's program. You can also explore further parts of Fed Square throughout the festival to find a collection of other works. This includes two works of speculative fiction from acclaimed writer Ellen van Neerven on the big screen, a collection of collages from Kait James and a massive piece of art from Josh Muir. For The Blak Infinite team, "these works across the square offer alternate narratives and ways of seeing the world, and collectively speak to the unlimited sovereign connections held across communities in Australia." Be sure to take your time exploring The Blak Infinite during RISING 2024, whether you're personally contributing to the conversations or just listening to what the artists are sharing. [caption id="attachment_958493" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Cook, UFO Possums ©️ Michael Cook, courtesy of the artist and RISING[/caption] Top image: Richard Bell, Aboriginal Embassy at the Tate Modern 2023, courtesy of the artist and RISING
Bunnings Warehouse is supercharging its usual sausage sizzle, to support a few Aussie communities that are doing it pretty tough. On Friday, January 24, all of the hardware giant's stores will host a special pre-weekend edition of their legendary snag sessions, raising coin for those impacted by drought and the current bushfires. All of the day's sausage profits will go to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund. This is the second sizzling fundraiser day that Bunnings has hosted since the bushfire crisis began late last year — a similar nation-wide fundraiser in Nbuovember raised over $600,000 for non-profit Givit to purchase essential items for communities affected by the bushfires. So, on Friday, grab a snag in bread and show those in need some love — the sausage sizzles will run from 9am–4pm across all Bunnings Warehouses in Victoria (and the country). If you can't make it, you can chuck a few dollars into its collection tin over here. For updates and advice on Victorian bushfires, head to the VicEmergency website.
So long, Bedford St. The Collingwood bar and cafe owned by Wide Open Road Coffee Roasters has undergone a facelift, and a fairly drastic one at that. Gone are the mac and cheese pancakes, fried chicken and toasted Wagon Wheel pies, now replaced with healthy food options less likely to clog up your arteries along with a seriously souped-up coffee menu. Now known as Terror Twilight, the newly renovated venue features a menu from Wide Open Road chef Pia Hambour. Standout breakfast dishes include three grain porridge with fresh figs, winter fruit, toasted seeds and coconut flakes, and a roast chicken sandwich with pistachio, bacon, prune and lemon mayo. Later in the day, diners can customise their own bowls, choosing from bases like steamed brown rice or sautéed broccoli, sides like roasted sweet potato or grilled haloumi, and proteins like grilled salmon or Sichuan marinated tofu. Alternatively, you can opt for a broth. There'll also be the option to upgrade your coffee with nootropic supplements and natural health-boosters, such as chaga mushrooms and MCT oil. If that's not your thing, you can grab a refreshing smoothie or a cold press juice instead. Find Terror Twilight at 86 Johnston Street, Collingwood from Thursday, May 18. For more information visit www.terrortwilight.com.au.
Deaf dance works, feminist hip-hop, an ecosexual labyrinth and a 24-hour performance piece are among the most eye-opening works on the newly revealed lineup for this year's Next Wave Festival. Melbourne's biennial celebration of young and emerging artists, Next Wave 2016 is set to kick-off in venues around town on Thursday, May 5, with 36 world premieres across a wide array of disciplines. Let's get stuck in. Diversity is clearly a major theme on this year's program, with a whopping 75 percent of projects led by women. Queensland artist Hannah Bronte will deliver a politically charged musical vision of an alternate Australia led by an entirely female parliament, while Nat Randall will spend a whole day and night on a performance inspired by the cult John Cassavetes film Opening Night. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists will likewise be well represented. Katie West from WA will examine the impact of colonialism through a work that incorporates native plantlife, while writer and performer Maurial Spearim has created a darkly-comic one-woman show told partly in the Gamilaraay language. The festival has also partnered with the Victorian Aboriginal Council for Languages on a series on Indigenous language workshops. Further standouts include a dance work featuring both deaf and hearing performers, an audiovisual concerto from artist Dylan Sheridan, and a immersive, ecosexual (yes, eco) labyrinth in the Royal Botanic Gardens. The Next Wave Festival will run from Thursday May 5 to Sunday May 22. For the full program visit www.nextwave.org.au.
This winter, Falls Creek welcomes a slick, well-panelled new(ish) resident, as the just-renovated Astra Lodge opens its doors to the public. Having taken out the title of Australia's Best Boutique Ski Lodge at the 2016 World Ski Awards in Austria, the ski-in ski-out lodge is now ready to impress the locals with a new fitout, kicking off the season on June 10. Sporting downright dapper interiors by Grant Amon Architects, the Astra Lodge's aesthetic resembles a 1970s European alpine hideaway. Owned by locals Rosy and Seumas Seaton and run by general managers Tom and Sally Simpson, the lodge contains every last wintry comfort — starting with its own integrated day spa, where guests can unwind with a whisky and a moustache grooming session after a long day on the slopes. There's a heated magnesium mineral pool for soothing those muscles, a state-of-the-art ski drying room, a panoramic library, a Chesterfield-filled lounge bar, a generous wine cellar and a seasonally-focused Italian fine diner, headed up by hatted chef, Emma Handley (Villa Gusto). After dinner, roasting of marshmallows in the common fireplace is highly encouraged. Perhaps the biggest drawcard for serious ski bunnies is that Astra Lodge will host Skimetrics founder Adalbert Leibetseder, who'll be offering his tailored ski program and boot fittings, helping to ensure you've got all the right gear for a top-notch ski trip experience. Rooms come in five styles, from deluxe to two-bedroom apartment. Suffice to say, rates aren't cheap, with the lowest off-peak nightly rate at the deluxe room at $346 per night (sleeps two, minimum two-night stay) — the highest being the apartment at $1630 per night (sleeps four, minimum two-night stay). Astra Lodge is currently taking bookings for the 2017 ski season and is set to open on June 10. Find it at 5 Sitzmark Street, Falls Creek.
Already a fan of SBTRKT, thanks to his remixes of Radiohead, M.I.A., Mark Ronson and Basement Jaxx? You haven't heard the best of the mask-wearing mystery man yet. It's on his studio albums that he shifts into top gear. Lead by mastermind Aaron Jerome Foulds, SBTRKT first solo-sashayed into public consciousness around June 2011, with the release of his eponymous debut. By spring 2014, another dose had been delivered, with full-lengther Wonder Where We Land, released in October. If you scored yourself a ticket to Falls Festival or Field Day this New Year's, you would have already seen how SBTRKT's latest creations manifest live. But there'll still a chance to kick off 2015 in his company. He'll be playing sideshows at Melbourne's Forum Theatre on Wednesday, January 7 (sold out) and at Sydney's Enmore Theatre on Thursday, January 8. Given that he'll be arriving on the heels of extensive US and European tours, we're expecting to catch a couple of seriously polished performances, complete with epic visuals. Supported by Movement.
If you go down to the NGV this October, you'll get to take a flower home with you. But on two conditions, says Taiwanese-American artist Lee Mingwei: "First, to make a detour from their intended route when leaving the museum for their next destination; second, along this detour, to give the flower to a stranger who they feel would benefit from this unexpected act of generosity." It's part of the artist's new work, The Moving Garden, opening at the National Gallery of Victoria on October 15. Mingwei and NGV have teamed up with Melbourne florist Flowers Vasette, who'll provide 1000 fresh flowers for each day of the exhibition — that's 106 days, totalling 106,000 flowers. One of the world's leading artists in audience participation, Mingwei made headlines this year at the Biennale of Sydney by recreating Picasso's masterpiece Guernica in sand before letting audiences walk all over it. "Lee's artwork inspires contemplation of social themes like trust and self-awareness, by encouraging one-on-one interactions between strangers," says NGV director Tony Ellwood. "The Moving Garden will also challenge the traditional relationship between art and audience, with each flower picked adding the story of the participant to that of the artwork." The Moving Garden is part of Melbourne's major new Asian arts festival, Asia TOPA: Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts, announced just this week. Mingwei will be conducting a free artist talk on Saturday, October 15, with bookings not required. Lee Mingwei: The Moving Garden will be on display at NGV International from 15 October 2016 – 29 January 2017. Open daily, 10am-5pm. Entry is free.
The American siblings behind Le Bon Ton and Chingon have launched their latest venture: a New York-style delicatessen with a rock 'n' roll steak house upstairs. Opening today on Elgin Street in Carlton, the team at 5 Points Deli will cater to hungry breakfast and lunch crowds, while the attached Longhorn Saloon takes care of dinner. Brothers Will and Mick Balleau began work on the two story venue in 2014, and announced their opening, as well as their menu, via Facebook earlier today. The highly-anticipated 5 Points is serving such Manhattan favourites such as freshly shucked oysters, bagels with cream cheese and a 'world famous smoked pastrami sandwich', with meat smoked in Le Bon Ton's half-tonne smoker. Longhorn, meanwhile, starts service at 5.30pm, with dinner options include homemade pasta, seafood and poutine, along with a variety of steak cuts and a selection of desserts. The drinks menu — it is a saloon after all — is even more impressive, with a very healthy lineup of wines, beers and spirits along with elaborate cocktails with names like 'The Longhorn Spritz' and 'Big Trouble/Little China'. Both kitchens will be headed by executive chef Nick Stanton, who left his previous post at Nieuw Amsterdam to join the Balleaus late last year. Located at 118 Elgin Street, 5 Points and Longhorn Saloon have a capacity of about 200 people each. For more information, you can check them out on Facebook here and here.
If movies are your religion, then the Shadow Electric Outdoor Cinema is the closest thing you'll find to a church. Screening a savvy mix of classics and recent essentials, their giant pop-up screen in the grounds of the Abbotsford Convent is the perfect place to catch a movie under the balmy summer sky. Although the season doesn't start until January, the program hit the web today. We've got the breakdown right here. Things kick into gear just after New Year's, with Stop Making Sense on Friday January 2. The Talking Heads concert film is one of several musically-themed films on the program, including A Hard Day's Night, Bjork: Biophilia Live and the recent, heart-thumping jazz thriller, Whiplash. Other 2014 titles include Dan Gilroy's creepifying media satire Nightcrawler, the hilariously uncomfortable Swedish marital drama Force Majeure and the indie film phenomenon Boyhood. Also screening is Christopher Nolan's space epic Interstellar, a film that more than any other deserves to be seen beneath the stars. A couple of this year's best Australian films also made the cut, namely the slickly made time-travel thriller Predestination and the genre-transcending skateboarding doco All This Mayhem. New Zealand cinema is also represented via Jemaine Clement's gut-busting vampire movie What We Do in the Shadows and the yet-to-be-released horror comedy, Housebound. Speaking of the horrific, while it's disappointing to see that last year's regular Monday night cult film has been scrapped, the few B-movies they have managed to squeeze into the line-up look pretty bloody fantastic (emphasis on bloody). Sion Sono's Why Don't We Play in Hell? is like a Fellini film in a slaughterhouse, and really, who wouldn't want to see a movie called Kung Fu Cannibals? But it's in the retro department that this year's program really delivers. Boogie Nights, Fight Club, The Big Lebowski and Do the Right Thing are just a few of the classics that everyone should see with an audience. Wes Craven's Scream is a great fit for Friday the 13th in February, while When Harry Met Sally is a near-perfect date movie for Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day notwithstanding, most Saturdays will see the Shadow Electric take a night off from the movies for a series of live music gigs. That program is yet to be announced, but keep your eyes glued to the website for more info.
It's been 12 years since Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio decided to fill a Melbourne alleyway with tunes in 2005. Heading back to their collection of unconventional venues for another year, Laneway Festival is back for 2017. Returning to Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Fremantle, Auckland and Singapore next January and February, Laneway will raise a plastic cup to the middle of summer with one heck of a killer lineup. Following the already announced appearance of AB Original and Chet Faker (or is it Nick Murphy now?), Laneway will see one heck of a crew on their stages, including Aussies Tame Impala — who will be only doing Laneway this time, no sideshows. Oxford band Glass Animals will be coming out for the festival, along wiht other international acts Tourist, Tycho, Nao and riot grrl Kathleen Hanna. There's plenty of local love on the lineup too, with Gang of Youths, Jagwar Ma, Sampa the Great and Camp Cope all making appearances. LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2017 LINEUP A.B.Original AURORA Baro* Bob Moses Camp Cope Car Seat Headrest Clams Casino Ecca Vandal* Fascinator Floating Points (live) Flyying Colours* Gang of Youths GL Glass Animals Jagwar Ma Jess Kent Julia Jacklin Koi Child Luca Brasi Mick Jenkins Mr. Carmack NAO Nicholas Allbrook Nick Murphy (fka Chet Faker)** Roland Tings Sampa The Great Tame Impala** Tash Sultana The Julie Ruin Tourist Tycho White Lung Whitney *Melbourne only **Exclusive to Laneway, no sideshows Image: Andy Fraser.
St Kilda's George Hotel is getting a much-needed facelift, with the old Fitzroy Street finding new life as an American-style deli and craft beer haven. Opening this week, the newly christened Freddie Wimpoles takes its moniker from the very same man who purchased the George back in 1873. Frederick Wimpole would eventually go on to become Mayor of St Kilda – so hopefully his new namesake is destined for big things too. The venue's new setup features 13 taps pouring a rotating lineup of local and international craft brews, as well as additional beers by the bottle and can. They also have a number of wines, plus more than 180 premium spirits and a selection of classic cocktails. The food, meanwhile, is inspired by corner delis in NYC – think hot dogs, beef jerky, pickled vegetables and slow-cooked meat subs. Drawing inspiration from Sydney's Shady Pines Saloon, the interior at Freddie Wimpoles is fitted with salvaged material, and is capable of seating up to 150 people. The bar is made from reclaimed doors and posts, and one wall is tiled with old beer cans. Our beer can feature wall... #thegeorgehotel #fitzroyst #stkilda #whothefuckisfreddie #renovations #tinnies A photo posted by Freddie Wimpoles (@freddie_wimpoles) on Feb 7, 2016 at 4:36pm PST Freddie Wimpoles is located at 125 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. For more information visit www.freddiewimpoles.com.
Add another name to your list of CBD cafes that you really ought to try. Opening last week in Southern Cross Lane, Axil SXL is the latest member of the Axil Coffee Roasters family, after their flagship store in Hawthorn and their standing-room-only espresso bar in Flinders Lane. The new location appears to fall somewhere in the middle, size-wise, serving caffeinated brews along with fancy jaffles and tasty sweet treats. Tucked away in the Southern Cross Lane shopping mall at the east end of the city, Axil SXL isn't a full blown restaurant. According to The Weekly Review, coffee is their primary focus, although they also serve snacky breakfast and lunch options. After a high-end toastie? Try the variant made with gruyere and garlic mushrooms, or slow cooked shredded lamb. Their waffle offerings are similarly insane, featuring chocolate, peanut butter and banana. SXL won't be the new kid on the block for long though. Founders Dave Makin and Zoe Delany are already getting ready to throw open the doors on their fourth location: an all-day cafe on Bridge Road in Richmond. Mayday, as it's set to be called, will serve breakfast and lunch seven days a week, and it might even have its own bakery attached. Look out for them in January...and hit up SXL in the meantime Axil SXL is located at Shop 6, Southern Cross Lane, 121 Exhibition Street, Melbourne. Their opening hours are 7am to 4pm Monday to Friday. For more information, visit www.axilcoffee.com.au. Via The Weekly Review & Good Food. Image: Axil Coffee Roasters, Hawthorn.
You know the drill. The weekend rolls around and you and your mates end up doing exactly the same thing as last week — or at the very least, something pretty darn close. Sure, you chums are guaranteed to have a blast no matter what you're doing, but maybe it's time to spice up those group hangs (just a tiny bit, okay?). We've found a few perfect ways to do exactly that, from a spot of puppy patting to floating in a salty tank. Book in a friend date and head out of your usual comfort zone for one of these unexpected activities to do with your mates. BORROW SOMEONE ELSE'S PUP FOR THE DAY Dog-sharing. Yep. Read it again: dog-sharing. Services that allow pooch owners to connect with other pooch owners to help with everyday care, pupsit for holidays, do walks and so on. It's a thing (thanks to Australian service Dogshare) and you and your dogless mates can 'borrow' a pup for a walkie or sleepover from time-poor dog owners in your local area. To become a borrower, you just have to create a profile on Dogshare's website, list your previous experience with dogs and flag any services you're keen to volunteer for — like walks, park playdates, overnight stays or going to the vet. Can you think of a more joyous way to spend a sunny day with your squad? Just remember — you've gotta give them back at the end. Look after dem pooches, people. Do it at: where you live via Dogshare. LEARN HOW TO HULA HOOP LIKE A PRO When it comes to hula hooping, we're going to guess that you suck (although, props if you're a secret hula hooping champ). And the best way to learn is with your mates — because there's nothing like sucking at a physical activity to bring you closer together. Hula Sparz is run every Monday at 5.30pm at The Knowledge Market, and hooper Donna Sparx will teach you how to master the hoop to some cool beats. If nothing else, you'll work up a sweat and go out for dins after. Do it at: Hula Sparx at The Knowledge Market every Monday evening, Docklands. [caption id="attachment_592149" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Gravity Float[/caption] FLOAT AROUND IN A POD OF SALTY WATER You might be a few years off being able to float around with your mates in outer space, but you can enjoy the feeling of zero gravity, right here, right now. It seems like sensory deprivation tanks (yes, just like Stranger Things) popped up on just about every shopping strip overnight, offering an out-of-this world experience designed to take your relaxation levels to the max. Each tank is light-proof, sound-proof, and filled with a mix of Epsom salts and water, which takes away the sensation of gravity and leaves you floating in a temperature-controlled bubble of absolute peace. Those cortisol and adrenaline levels dip, as any external stimuli and distractions (read: all that stuff that's currently stressing you out), disappear completely. Do a simultaneous float with a mate and go grab lunch afterwards. Do it at: Gravity Float, Armadale. CLIMB A REALLY TALL WALL Sometimes it feels like the only way to catch up with friends is over food. Brunch, lunch, dinner, dessert, second dinner, second dessert are all great options (don't get us wrong), but sometimes you feel like doing something active and building muscle rather than building up a bill. Round up the crew and get vertical with a climbing session at your local indoor wall. With most rock climbing centres boasting a wide range of routes and climbs, you can tailor a visit to suit your group's abilities, whether that involves putting Spidey to shame with your ninja skills, or simply squashing that mild fear of heights. Sessions at most indoor rock climbing centres clock in at under $20 (safety demo included) with harness and shoe hire available for a few extra bucks each. You'll need someone to spot you, so take a friend who you trust with your life in their hands. Do it at: Hardrock, CBD. [caption id="attachment_556153" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Visit St. Pete/Clearwater via Flickr[/caption] TAKE TO THE SEAS ON A STAND-UP PADDLE BOARD Make the most of that impending sunshine and those bearable water temps this summer, and gather your mates for a stand-up paddleboard group lesson. Imagine gliding across the water, catching some rays, seeing fishies — or, alternatively, laughing at your mates and belly-flopping into the water as you try to stay standing. Both sound similarly fun. A carry-over from ancient Polynesian times, stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years as a brilliant way to sharpen that balance and exercise on the high seas. Plus, the sport's a whole lot easier to master than its gnarlier cousin surfing — one lesson usually enough to have you paddling like a pro. Fish and chips on the beach post-paddle is, of course, a given. Do it at: Stand-Up Paddle Board HQ, St Kilda.
As far as Henry Miller was concerned, alone time is crucial to creativity. “An artist is always alone,” he wrote, “if he is an artist. What the artist needs is loneliness.” But spending day in, day out, with only your cat for company isn’t always a recipe for inspiration. Luckily, Etsy is well aware of the problem. So, every year, they host an enormous, worldwide Craft Party. Artists and craftspeople all over the planet are encouraged to get together to paint, draw, sculpt, sew and make — with like-minded others. This year, the gathering will be happening on June 6 and the theme is 'Kaleidoscope: Paper taking shape'. It's all about collages and paper cutting techniques this year, so come armed with scissors. Etsy Craft Parties will be held all over Australia. You can organise your own, or to attend one of Melbourne's major bashes, book a spot online. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
In a piece of bad news for people who like good food on the cheap, the future of Lentil as Anything in Abbotsford appears to be in doubt. The operators of the beloved pay-what-you-feel vegetarian restaurant broke the bad news last week, after their landlords at the historic Abbotsford Convent began advertising for expressions of interest for the Lentil as Anything space. According to a statement on the Lentil as Anything homepage, the restaurant received notice from the Abbotsford Convent Foundation (ACF) that it would be undergoing a "request for proposal" process for the location, which Lentil as Anything has occupied for the past 11 years. The application process will be open until November 20, before a tenant is selected from a shortlist of candidates. Assuming Lentil as Anything is unable to compete with opposing bids, their lease could be terminated as early as December. Representatives from Lentil as Anything have launched an online petition to help save their Abbotsford premises, and have already racked up more than 4200 signatures. According to their website, they hope that the ACF board will take into account the feelings of the community when making their decision, although there appear to be no official channels for the public to make their voices heard. In addition to their iconic Abbotsford location, the Lentil as Anything team operate restaurants in St Kilda, Footscray, Preston, Thornbury and Sydney. Their community-minded philosophy and unique payment method has made them popular with many locals. However, the Abbotsford site did previously report that it was operating at a loss, with many customers choosing not to pay for their food at all. This is why we can't have nice things. See the online petition at Change.org. Image: Lentil as Anything, Preston.
Chow down on extravagant chocolate creations or customise your own, at Australia's first ever KitKat Chocolatory when it opens in Melbourne next week. Setting up shop at Melbourne Central, the dedicated store comes on the back of a number of wonderfully over-the-top pop-ups, and will offer a rather more extensive lineup of KitKats than you'll find on the supermarket shelf. Think pop-rocks, potato chips, marshmallows and toasted coconut, and you should be right on the right track. Opening on October 21 in Melbourne Central, the KitKat Chocolatory intends to offer a "premium chocolate experience" according to the sugar fiends at Nestle. "Customers will be able to purchase handcrafted chocolates and one-off flavour combinations. Using premium 100% sustainable UTZ certified chocolate and an ever changing range of delicious ingredients, they can put a personal stamp on their favourite chocolate and create custom-made KitKat bars." Among the Chocolatory's distinctive lineup, customers will find a number of limited edition Melbourne-themed creations by Shangri-La Sydney Executive Pastry Chef Anna Polyviou.. These include the Hosier Lane (featuring milk chocolate, wafer, caramel fudge, nougat, popcorn and potato chips), the St Kilda (featuring dark chocolate, wafer, pretzels, marshmallow and raspberry jelly drops), the Little Bourke (featuring white chocolate, wafer, toasted coconut, cornflakes and cornflakes), and the tooth-rotting Luna Park (featuring white chocolate, wafer, 100s & 1000s, pop-rocks and rice crispies). Find the KitKat Chocolatory on Level 1 of Melbourne Central from Friday October 21. For more information visit www.kitkat.com.au.
